Opinion | Hindi Diwas

Hindi being our national language must be included in the school curriculum as a full fledged subject in Kashmir.

India is a land of exceptional linguistic diversity, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and complex social fabric. Being one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world, our country is home to a vast array of languages, dialects, and scripts. Our constitution recognizes 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule, known as Scheduled Languages including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili and others. According to the census of India, there are over 1,600 languages spoken across the country including languages spoken by a smaller population but not officially recognized. Each language in India has multiple dialects, reflecting regional variations like Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Marwari are the dialects of Hindi each with its unique characteristics. At the same time Indian languages share common scripts like Hindi and Marathi both using Devanagari script.

Hindi, in the Devanagari script, is one of the official languages of India adopted as the official language by the constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949 as after the independence a need for an official language was felt to streamline communication between government and departments and to reach out to the public thats why Hindi Diwas is celebrated on 14th September every year. It serves as a unifying language for a diverse country with numerous languages and dialects. At the global Level this day is celebrated on 10th of January every year.
Hindi marks its centuries of history, music, poetry, and philosophy acting as a key Part for our identity and connecting to our cultural roots. The celebration of a Hindi Diwas aims to promote the language among younger generations and encourage them to take pride in their linguistic heritage.
Many educational institutions in India use Hindi as a medium of instruction facilitating learning for a large section of population who may not be fluent in English hence has successfully broadened the access to education, reducing barriers to education, promoting inclusivity and reducing dropout rates. Teaching and learning in Hindi enables a student to express themselves more freely and engage in critical thinking. Media being one of the powerful tools in shaping and driving our societies, Hindi language has played a tremendous role in Bollywood industry making it a world’s largest film industry. As long as Hindi continues to dominate Indian cinema, television, and digital content, its cultural influence will remain profound and meaningful. UPSC allows candidates to write their exams in Hindi, which is crucial for aspirants helping create equal conditions for candidates from Hindi speaking regions or those who have pursued their education in Hindi ensuring they can express their knowledge effectively without the language barrier posed by English. The proficiency in Hindi and a strong command of the language aids in strong and effective communication, administration and governance. Understanding and communicating in Hindi enhances the ability to engage with a large segment of population, particularly in Hindi speaking states.

The rise of digital platforms supporting Hindi content and interfaces is likely to increase its usage among younger generations. Increasing the availability of Hindi content on social media, websites and apps as well as improving Hindi-language technology e.g. voice Assistance, translation tools, can enhance its use. As the Indian economy grows, more people might learn Hindi to engage in business and trade. Hindi speaking regions to Hindi speaking one’s for work, can boost the languages prevalence. Promoting Hindi literature, arts, and heritage through festivals, cultural exchanges, and international collaborations can help in spreading the language and making it more appealing globally. On the other hand, the Indian diaspora has a crucial role to play in promoting Hindi by maintaining their language and cultural practices, and by supporting Hindi-language education in foreign countries.
Tourism being the backbone of India’s economy, Increased tourism in Hindi Speaking regions of India and exposing them to festivals, cultural events, heritage sites, integrating it to travel itineraries can lead to a greater interest in learning Hindi among international visitors and encourage them to learn basic Hindi phrases and gain experience of the language.
If these factors align well and effectively, Hindi has the potential to rise again as a significant language both within India and on the global stage.

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